Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy is clearly aware of the conditions and criteria applying to the VTOS scheme. There are almost 450,000 people on the live register. About 100,000 of those are now long-term unemployed. The longer they remain unemployed the more unemployable they become. My Department and the Department of Social Protection has, therefore, focused on that cohort of people who are the most vulnerable and have the longest journey to make back to education and employment. That is why the VTOS provision is targeted at that cohort and we are clear cut and unambiguous as to who we support and the criteria a person must satisfy in order to access that support.

If the Deputy e-mails me the details of the two individuals to whom she refers, I will work with her in making them aware of other options. I am confident there are other options they can avail of. They are not required to sit at home twiddling their thumbs for the next 12 months. I will certainly assist the Deputy in that regard.

I am also confident that if they were to visit their local VEC, FÁS or Department of Social Protection office they would receive guidance and counselling as to the direction they should take. There is no requirement on anyone to sit on their hands for a year awaiting the opportunity of training or further education.

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